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临近 (lín jìn) — to approach (in time); to be close to (in space)

Definition

临近 (lín jìn) is a formal verb meaning 'to approach / be close to' in time or space — more neutral and literary than 接近 or 靠近 (drawn-out motion). 逼近 is stronger and typically for threats; 濒临 marks the verge of something negative.

verb
to approach (in time)to be close to (in space)

Examples

  • 临近，。
    Bì yè lín jìn, tóng xué men dōu zài zhǎo gōng zuò.
    Graduation is approaching, and classmates are all looking for jobs.
  • 临近，。
    Zhè jiā chāo shì lín jìn wǒ jiā, zǒu lù wǔ fēn zhōng jiù dào le.
    This supermarket is close to my home, a five-minute walk.
  • 临近，。
    Jié zhǐ rì qī lín jìn, wǒ men dé kuài diǎn wán chéng.
    The deadline is approaching, we need to finish quickly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

临línapproach
近jìnnear

Both 临 (approach) and 近 (near) express closeness, so 临近 means to approach.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
斤
斤jīn近jìn
Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

Open 近 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Time (Abstract)

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